How Early Should You Leave for JFK from Manhattan? (The Peak Rush Hour Guide) Whether you are flying out of NYC for a global business trip or heading home after a Manhattan vacation, one question dominates every traveler's itinerary: "How early do I actually need to leave Manhattan to make my flight at JFK?" Google this question, and you will see wildly different answers ranging from 45 minutes to 3 hours. The truth is that getting from Manhattan to John F. Kennedy Internatio